Tough times: Braith Anasta is attended to by a Tigers trainer on Sunday Photo: Getty Images

The diagnosis offers hope that the former Sydney Roosters captain can resume playing in several weeks, provided he is able to withstand the pain.

Should he require surgery, Anasta will join a long list of Tigers players sidelined for the remainder of the season as the recovery from such an injury is about six months.

At 32, Anasta may have played his last game as he is off contract at the end of the season. The future for the Tigers was on display against the Panthers in the form of rookie Mitchell Moses, who made his NRL debut at fullback but played his junior football at five-eighth alongside star halfback Luke Brooks.

The Tigers also recently re-signed Curtis Sironen to a new three-year contract and the 21-year-old fills a similar role to Anasta as he can play either in the back-row or the halves.

Advertisement

If he is able to continue his 288-match NRL career that began at Canterbury in 2000, Anasta is still expected to miss Friday night's match against Manly at Brookvale Oval.

The nephew of South Sydney patriarch George Piggins, Anasta has achieved almost everything the game has to offer in his 15-year career, including a premiership with the Bulldogs in 2004, 10 State of Origin appearances for NSW and four Tests for Australia.

You will now receive updates fromLeague HQ Newsletter

League HQ Newsletter

He was also the NRL's 2000 rookie of the year and earned legend status at the Roosters in 2010 after kicking the field goal that sent their semi-final against the Tigers into extra time and enabled him to lead the team in the grand final.

Anasta, who earlier this year became a father to wife Jodie Gordon, joined Wests Tigers last year.

Without him, the Tigers depth will be severely tested as back-rower Liam Fulton has been ruled out for the remainder of the season while he contemplates his future after failing to finish four of the six games he has played this year due to concussion and star fullback James Tedesco (knee), utility Tim Moltzen (knee) and forward Corey Paterson (finger) are also unlikely to play again this season.

Centre Tim Simona (mouth) and prop Sauaso Sue (shoulder) are also out for another three weeks, while forward Bodene Thompson faces a one-match ban after being charged by the NRL match review committee for dangerous contact on Penrith kicker Jamie Soward.

The Tigers, who have dropped out of the top eight on for and against, were also effected severely by State of Origin as they have failed to win any of their three matches while skipper Robbie Farah and prop Aaron Woods were unavailable due to NSW duty.

Meanwhile, Penrith general manager Phil Gould said on Twitter that star halfback Peter Wallace was set to miss up to six weeks after being diagnosed with a grade three medial ligament tear.

However, Wallace also suffered an ankle injury in the same incident that forced him from the field at Leichhardt Oval and was sent for an X-ray on Monday.

A Panthers official said the X-ray had found no fracture and he would have further scans on his ankle.

In other injury news, Roosters captain Anthony Minichiello is expected to be available for the premiers next match, against Penrith on July 19, after being cleared of a hamstring injury.